Jenny Hughey – Co-chair

Jenny has volunteered in Community Law for many years and was on the Board of Marlborough Community Law and is currently Chair of Community Law Canterbury. She has spent over 40 years working towards social justice. She has worked in the unions, the Human Rights Commission, in prison advocacy, local government and in community organisations. She has held a range of appointments including as an official visitor in prisons, a commonwealth environmental inquiry commissioner, an investigator under Whistle Blower provisions and a University Halls of resident mediator. Jenny was elected to Chair the Regional Council in Canterbury between 2019-2022. She is a qualified teacher and lawyer.

Jason Pou – Co-chair

Jason is on the board of the Rotorua District Community Law Centre, and is a trustee on a number of charitable trusts. In his legal practice he regularly advises small to medium sized businesses, iwi trust boards, rūnanga and not for profit organisations.

Tom Harris- Māori Manager Representative

Is a trustee on a number of local community groups and trusts within the Waitemata region. Tom also participates in advisory groups which include the district courts, NZ Police, lwi leadership groups and local marae

Rachel Mullins – Māori Independent Representative

Ngāi Kahungunu, Kai Tahu

Rachel Mullins is a Judge of the Māori Land Court. Rachel began her legal career in community law at the Ngāi Tahu Māori Law Centre in Dunedin, and then went on to private practice. She set up her own firm in 2017 specialising in Māori Land law and Education law, before being appointed to the Māori Land Court bench in 2021.

Glenn Barclay – Independent Representative

Glenn’s working life has been predominantly in working for unions, most recently at the PSA Te Pukenga Here Tikanga Mahi where he was employed initially as a senior policy advisor and then as national secretary until his retirement in 2020. He previously worked for the Association of Staff in Tertiary Education Te Hau Takitini o Aotearoa, which is now the Tertiary Education Union and as executive director for the NZ Association of Occupational Therapists, the professional association for OTs. Glenn is currently involved in vocational education and training as co-chair of the Wellington Regional Skills Leadership Group and a board member with Toitu te Waiora, the Community, Health, Education and Social Services Workforce Development Council. He is also co-convenor of the ACC Futures Coalition, which campaigns for ACC reform, and chair of Tax Justice Aotearoa, which advocates for a fairer tax system to help address inequality.

Juanita Bennett– CLC Manager Representative

Juanita Bennett started her journey with Community Law in 2005 as a volunteer at the Waikato Centre – Te Tari Ture aa-Hapori o Waikato. Soon after completing her LLB/BMS she joined the centre as a solicitor, followed by her current role as General Manager. She was appointed to Community Law Centres o Aotearoa board in 2021. Juanita is passionate about the law and particularly advocating for those who cannot do it themselves or access legal help. “Access legal services should be available to all individuals – not to only those who can afford it. What inspires me the most in my role is the endless generosity and humanity of those who work collectively to help others”.

Dave McEwen – Treasurer

Is a Trustee on the Board of Community Law Waikato (CLW) where he has served since 1999. Dave brings a wealth of financial experience and expertise in both the commercial and not- for-profit area to his role on the CLCA Board. His financial experience comes from his background, initially in the Royal New Zealand Air Force and then as an accountant working in senior roles within the agribusiness sector. Currently, Dave is the CFO for a large agribusiness entity and also a shareholder and director of various agribusiness technology companies both in New Zealand and overseas .

David Abricossow

David is a trustee and Co-Chair Riu Tauiwi of Community Law Wellington and Hutt Valley with whom he has been involved in various capacities for well over a decade (and on the board since 2013). Born in Te Awakairangi, David grew up in Te Puke before migrating back to Te Whanganui a Tara in 2004. In his spare time, David is a senior associate at Morrison Kent in Wellington and Rotorua who specialises in family and civil dispute resolution.